A few players who are signed through 2014 might not be welcomed back. The Lions can start cutting players under contract on the day after the Super Bowl.

Others will become unrestricted free agents. Keep them or let them go? Here are the top five personnel decisions to be made:

1. Brandon Pettigrew — The tight end is an unrestricted free agent. Pettigrew was sorely missed during the final two games when he was out with an ankle injury. He excels at pass blocking and can catch the ball. He was more sure-handed this season than before when he had too many drops. While Joe Fauria came on big in his rookie season, he needs more experience blocks. He’s not ready to fill Pettigrew’s cleats just yet. Also don’t forget Michael Williams who missed his entire rookie season. He’s expected to shine more in the blocking game. Still, they need Pettigrew back and it’s likely they will try to sign the former first-round pick.

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2. Louis Delmas — The free safety is signed through 2014 with an incentive laden contract. He played in all 16 games this season. He was more effective in some than others. Delmas had a career-high three interceptions and eight pass defenses, the most since his rookie season. The trouble was his ongoing problem with his knee. He was held out of most of training camp in order to be ready for the first regular season game. He usually just practiced one day a week in the season. Since he and Glover Quin had not played together it could have hurt the secondary’s effectiveness. Do the Lions want to gamble on Delmas again? He and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who is gone, were close. Not sure what Jim Caldwell and new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin will do here.

3. Dominic Raiola — Amazingly the center played the best football of his career in his 13th season. He bulked up — gained about 20 pounds — before the season and it worked. Raiola was a stabilizing influence, along with Rob Sims on the line which featured two rookies (right guard Larry Warford, right tackel LaAdrian Waddle) and second-year left tackle Riley Reiff. He took a big pay cut to stick around for 2013 and he was not guaranteed a roster spot. He did everything they asked and he wants to return. This should be a no-brainer. They know exactly what they will get from Raiola, one of the hardest workers on the team.

4. Willie Young — The defensive end, who is an unrestricted free agent, started the season on the right side until rookie Ezekiel Ansah took over and then started the bulk of the season on the left side (where he’s more comfortable) after Jason Jones injured his knee an was gone for the season. It was by far Young’s best season. In other years he had great training camps but was unable to take that to the field on Sundays. This year the light clicked. Jones, Ansah and Devin Taylor (a rookie who steadily improved as th season wore on) are under contract. Three is not enough. Young should be re-signed.

5. Nate Burleson — The 32-year-old wide receiver is signed through 2014 with a $5.5 million deal. He knows he will have to re-work his contract and he doesn’t have a problem with that. He wants to play. He had 39 catches in nine games this season, missing seven games due to breaking his forearm in a bizaare pizza-related incident. He thinks if he plays a full season he’s good for 80 catches. He wants to retire as a Detroit Lion and he’s not ready for the rocking chair just yet. Wide receiver will be a position the Lions will look to bulk up through free agency and the draft. Burleson seems confident he will be back. If he has to earn his spot, he will do his best and I wouldn’t bet against him. Burleson can not only catch the ball but he’s a great leader for the young wide receivers and the other young guys on offense and defense.